Essential Items to Carry in Denmark: A Checklist for Your Vehicle's Safety and Compliance
Hitting the Road in Denmark: Essentials for Your Voyage* Let's Chat
Navigating the Danish highways requires more than just the right route. There are some crucial items you should have in your vehicle, whether you're the owner or just borrowing someone else's ride for a quick jaunt.
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Denmark's traffic laws demand certain essentials while driving. Other items might not be legally mandated, but they can be indispensable in case of emergencies or precautionary measures.
Warning Triangle
Although it's not a legal requirement to have a warning triangle in your vehicle, it does come into play as a legal obligation when you break down or get into an accident and need to stop at the side of the road. If you're unlucky enough to need it, you should place it 100 meters away (on motorways) or 50 meters away (on other roads) from your vehicle.
Important Equipment
Denmark does not mandate any extra safety or first aid equipment in cars, but the following items are generally advised, even by the motorists' organization FDM:
- First-Aid Kit
- Reflective Vest (it's best to keep it inside the car for quick access)
- Emergency Hammer to break glass
- Spare Headlight Bulbs
Notably, other countries, such as neighboring Norway, require a reflective vest and warning triangle since 2007. For a comprehensive list of safety equipment requirements in various European countries, click here.
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Driver's License and Number Plates
Remember to carry your driver's license whenever you're on the road. It doesn’t have to be in the car physically, as Denmark has a digital version of its driving license that can be shown via an app, accessible only to Danish passport holders. The fine for not displaying a license is 1,000 kroner. Number plates must be present on both the front and back of the vehicle, proving that the car is registered, insured, and the owner has paid the road tax.
Where's My Car?
Cars without number plates can be seen at second-hand car dealerships. Once a sale is agreed, the buyer becomes the new owner, the vehicle is registered with an insurer, and the seller completes the necessary paperwork for a new number plate to be issued. After completing the paperwork, the new number plate will be affixed to the car before the buyer drives away.
If you decide to take a car off the road, it must be registered so that the number plates can be removed.
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Spare Tire or Puncture Repair Kit
While it's not required, having a spare wheel or a puncture repair kit in your car is worth considering, especially if you drive during the winter months when the risk of tire damage is higher.
All four tires must have the same seasonal tire (summer, winter, or universal) and the tires on the same axle must have identical tread patterns.
If you choose to carry a spare tire, you'll also need a jack and wheel bolt wrench to change it. If you opt for a spacesaver wheel or puncture repair kit, make sure you have the right equipment and know how to use it.
Dress Warmly
Warm clothes and blankets are essential for winter drives. If your car were to break down, you wouldn't want to wait freezing cold while you wait for a recovery vehicle.
De-Ice, Please
Ice scrapers are essential for clearing ice from your windshield, so you can legally drive without obstructed vision.
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Sources:
[1] Road Safety Council Denmark, http://roadsafetycouncildenmark.dk
- In addition to crucial driving essentials, having a warning triangle might not be legally required, but it can be valuable in emergencies or precautionary measures when driving in Denmark.
- Although Denmark does not mandate extra safety equipment in cars, it is generally advised to carry a first-aid kit, reflective vest, emergency hammer, and spare headlight bulbs, even by the motorists' organization FDM.
- Unluckily, countries like Norway require a reflective vest and warning triangle since 2007, which Denmark does not.
- To be legally compliant while driving in Denmark, make sure to have your driver's license accessible (whether digital or physical) and your number plates on both the front and back of the vehicle.
- To ensure safety on the road during winter months in Denmark, consider having a spare tire or puncture repair kit, ice scrapers, warm clothes, and blankets.
